‘Lessons from the Covid-19 pandemic must translate into actionable change’

The pandemic provided an unanticipated yet crucial moment for nurses and midwives to showcase their dedication, adaptability and resilience. Across all healthcare settings, they responded to the needs of their patients and clients, embraced technological advancements, and ensured continuity of care while protecting the most vulnerable during lockdowns.

“Reports have consistently shown that healthcare workers from ethnic minority backgrounds faced higher risks of infection, morbidity and mortality”

Even in the face of unprecedented challenges, nursing and midwifery students, along with their educators, swiftly adapted to online teaching platforms to continue their training and education.

While Covid-19 affected healthcare workers across the board, the burden was disproportionately borne by Black and brown nurses, midwives and students. Reports have consistently shown that healthcare workers from ethnic minority backgrounds faced higher risks of infection, morbidity and mortality.

Structural inequalities, occupational exposure and lack of adequate personal protective equipment (PPE) were among the factors contributing to the devastating impact on global majority staff. The pandemic exposed and exacerbated racial disparities in healthcare, leading to an urgent call for equity in workplace safety, support and career progression.

In 2022, during the Royal College of Nursing (RCN) Congress, a critical debate took place about long Covid and its impact on nurses.

Members of the RCN voted in favour of a campaign to improve support for nurses suffering from long Covid, advocating for workplace flexibility, emotional and financial support, and protection against job loss. I championed the resolution, emphasising the need for ongoing support to ensure affected nurses can continue working in the profession they dedicated their lives to.

Now, five years since the pandemic’s onset, long Covid remains a pressing issue. According to the Office for National Statistics, approximately 2 million people in England and Scotland continue to live with long Covid. Among them are countless nurses who contracted Covid-19 while on the front lines.

Despite efforts from employers and professional bodies, many nurses continue to struggle with debilitating symptoms, forcing some to leave their jobs and even abandon their careers entirely. The loss of skilled and experienced nurses due to long Covid is not only a personal tragedy for those affected but also a significant challenge for healthcare systems already under strain.

On March 15, the RCN will commemorate International Long Covid Awareness Day. This occasion will serve as an opportunity to celebrate the resilience of nurses while also acknowledging the profound and lasting impact of the pandemic on the nursing workforce.

The event will pay tribute to the vital role that nurses, and the wider healthcare workforce played during the height of the pandemic. It will also create a space for sharing experiences, shaping best practices in supporting affected nurses and fostering an ongoing dialogue about long Covid in the profession.

Beyond simply recognising the struggles, the day will aim to leave attendees with a sense of empowerment, advocating for long-term solutions that ensure nurses with long Covid receive the support they need to continue contributing to healthcare.

“Nurses have been the backbone of the healthcare response to the pandemic”

As we move forward, it is crucial to learn from the past and build a more supportive and equitable healthcare system. The lessons from the Covid-19 pandemic must translate into actionable change – ensuring better protection for healthcare workers, addressing racial disparities and prioritising the long-term wellbeing of those who have given so much to their communities.

Nurses have been the backbone of the healthcare response to the pandemic and their sacrifices must not be forgotten.

International Long Covid Awareness Day 2025 is not just a commemoration; it is a call to action. It is an opportunity for policymakers, nursing leaders and the public to reaffirm their commitment to supporting nurses and ensuring they receive the recognition, care and protection they deserve. By doing so, we honour their dedication and pave the way for a stronger and more resilient nursing workforce for the future.

Professor Nicola Ranger, chief executive officer and general secretary of the RCN stated: “I had the privilege of leading a hospital through the pandemic. I saw firsthand the selfless courage of nursing teams in every clinical setting and witnessed what they gave both professionally and personally.

“We will never forget what we did and what we saw. But sadly, much of society, including some politicians and NHS leaders, appear to have already forgotten. I still think of the people we lost and think of many in the nursing profession who are still suffering.

“The RCN continues to stand up for and support the many thousands for whom long Covid is a daily reality. Through our helpline, and support groups and by keeping the pressure on Government we are determined they will not be forgotten. Nursing made a real sacrifice.”

According to Patricia Marquis, executive director of RCN England, “The RCN is celebrating International Long Covid Awareness Day as a time of reflection and an opportunity to refocus and rebuild and mark an important time in the history of nursing.”

The event is open to all RCN members but may be of special interest to those who are living with long Covid, those working in occupational health or infection prevention and control, those with line management responsibility and RCN workplace representatives.

Ruth Oshikanlu is a nurse entrepreneur, executive director of Goal Mind and Abule CIC, and a Fellow of the Royal College of Nursing.